The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has recognized two further suspected instances of Ebola virus illness and 53 primary contacts as authorities intensify efforts to include the an infection in Nigeria.
The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this throughout a press briefing in Abuja on Sunday, October 25, 2026, amid ongoing surveillance and get in touch with tracing following the nation’s first confirmed imported case.
The growth comes 5 days after the Federal Government confirmed an Ebola an infection in a girl who not too long ago arrived in Nigeria from Uganda, elevating considerations about potential transmission.
NCDC identifies 53 primary contacts
The identification of two further suspected instances doesn’t imply they’ve examined constructive for Ebola, as laboratory affirmation is required to determine their an infection standing.
The 53 primary contacts embody healthcare staff, the confirmed affected person’s home employees and partner, in addition to well being personnel concerned in accumulating samples from the affected person.
- “As of now, we have 53 primary contacts. These comprise 44 people from the health facility where the patient was treated and nine additional contacts,” he mentioned.
- “Of the nine additional contacts, three are household members of the patient, her driver, chef and husband. Three others attended to her at Julius Berger Clinic before she got to the other facility, while the remaining three are members of the team who went to collect samples.”
The newest determine represents a rise from the 44 contacts initially recognized when the Federal Government introduced the imported case on October 20.
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, had earlier confirmed that the contaminated girl was receiving therapy in isolation, whereas well being authorities strengthened surveillance and an infection prevention measures.
Nigeria’s first Ebola case timeline
Nigeria confirmed its imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus illness on October 20, following laboratory checks on a girl who had not too long ago travelled from Uganda.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the affected person developed signs on October 7, 4 days after arriving in Nigeria, and sought therapy at a non-public well being facility in Abuja on October 11.
Subsequent genomic evaluation confirmed that the virus was carefully associated to the strain detected in Kenya’s index case, though Nigerian authorities mentioned there was no confirmed direct epidemiological hyperlink between the two sufferers.
The infections have emerged amid a wider Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with instances additionally reported in Kenya.
The WHO has urged affected nations to strengthen illness surveillance, contact tracing and an infection prevention measures to restrict additional transmission.
